THE IMPACT OF CHILD-CARE RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF-EFFICACY ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF PROFESSIONAL WORKING MOTHERS

This study examined how childcare responsibility and self-efficacy to manage multiple role demands related to the psychological well-being a nd distress of 42 full-time professional women one month after they re turned to their jobs after the birth of their first child. The results showed that greater childcare responsibility is associated with lower well-being and greater psychological distress. As predicted, perceive d self-efficacy to cope with demands of occupational and familial role s appeared to mediate this relationship. A woman's belief in her capab ility to enlist the help of her spouse for childcare was the most cons istent predictor of both well-being and distress.